MAYODAN — For around 15 years, Lifestyle Fitness and Tennis has hosted free middle and high school winter tennis clinics, with this year’s being held in January and February. An outreach program offered to all middle and high school students from the surrounding area, the clinics are co-sponsored by Rockingham County Tennis Association (RCTA).
“As a small, rural county, Rockingham County is rich in tennis facilities but limited in professional tennis instruction,” said Shelby Rhyne, Lifestyle Fitness and Tennis member and tennis host. “Each winter we offer professional tennis instruction to help build the skills of new and experienced school-age tennis players, but perhaps most importantly, we want our Rockingham County youth to learn first-hand that tennis can cultivate social skills and deepen self-confidence; improve coordination, agility and balance; and develop strategic thinking and problem-solving.”
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Twenty-six students participated in the first two clinics, held Jan. 20 and 27. Clinics were also held Feb. 3 and 10.
“January and February are ‘quiet months’ in the school calendar, so school-age players and their families have more time to focus on developing their tennis skills or learning for the first time,” Rhyne said. “Plus, when the weather is bad outside, we play tennis inside.”
The players were divided by skill level with beginners receiving appropriate instruction in racket and ball control, basic strokes and how to play the game. More advanced players worked with the coaches to improve their groundstrokes, serves and volleys, as well as learn singles and doubles strategies.
The clinics were led by tennis professionals Bitrus Istifanus from Eden and Brent Edwards, director of tennis at Asheboro Swim and Racquet Club. Istifanus played college tennis at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh and began his teaching career in the Greensboro area before meeting Barry Mabe, a local champion of tennis and former director of the Eden Family YMCA and Western Rockingham YMCA. “Coach B,” as he is affectionally called, moved to Rockingham County more than 20 years ago, and after a long career associated with the YMCA, he currently coaches private students in Eden.
A certified PTR teaching professional with experience coaching students 10 and under, high schoolers and adults, Edwards is currently working toward a degree in the professional tennis management program at Methodist University. His previous work experience includes serving as head tennis coach at Gates Four Golf and Country Club in Fayetteville, a tennis coach for Southside Area Tennis Association in Virginia and a tennis coach at Charlotte Tennis Academy.
This was the first year that the winter clinics were able to offer two coaches.
“This program has been successful every year with Coach Bitrus Istifanus at the helm, but with only one pro, the clinics were limited to eight players per session,” Rhyne said.
With the addition of Edwards, the number of participants was able to be increased for each session. New lighting and rotating fans were also added to improve the indoor tennis and pickleball facility, and the Rockingham County Tennis Association shared youth and adult rackets, youth-sized pop-up nets, age-appropriate balls, and other teaching/training aids with Lifestyle Fitness and Tennis.
RCTA also sponsors the RCS County Team Tournaments, provides grant funding for local tennis initiatives and offers a summer outreach program. For the past nine years, RCTA also offered a free tennis outreach program that has employed more than 30 local tennis high school and middle school youth as junior coaches. This six-week summer program connects tennis and education with youth summer camps at two Boys and Girls Clubs, two YMCA’s, New Reidsville Housing Authority’s Parkview Village, Eden Parks and Recreation Bridge Street Recreation Center, and Community Baptist Schools in Rockingham County.
In addition, Lifestyle Fitness and Tennis offers five other fee-based programs for middle and high school players during the winter.
“Our tennis outreach is critical to keep growing our tennis community in Rockingham County,” Rhyne said.